Method and apparatus for simultaneously washing containers and removing labels therefrom



June 14, R. J. WINTERS 2,710,818

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY WASHING CONTAINERS AND REMOVING LABELS THEREFROM 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 8, 1.953

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June 14, 1955 R; J. WINTERS METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANEOUSLY WASHING CONTAINERS AND REMOVING LABELS THEREFROM Filed Dec. 8, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 ZOC-DJOW @(UJU United States Patent 0 METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SIMULTANE- OUSLY WASHING CONTAINERS AND REMOV- ING LABELS THEREFRQM Ralph J. Winters, Nutley, N. J., assignor to P. Ballantine & Sons, Newark, N. 1., a corporation of New Jersey Application December 8, 1953, Serial No. 396,926

16 Claims. (Cl. 134-18) My present invention relates to the automatic washing of containers carrying labels and more particularly to a method for simultaneously washing such containers, removing and disposing of the labels as well as apparatus for carrying out the same.

In the art of packaging products, particularly products intended for human consumption, highly complex and expensive equipment for substantially automatically handling the containers has been provided. This is especially true in the brewing industry where machinery capable of handling many thousands of bottles per hour has been provided for automatically washing the bottles. In this industry containers such as bottles are used over and over again. Before each use each bottle is scrupulously cleaned. It is conventional for each bottle to have afiixed thereto a paper label which washes off or otherwise becomes detached from the bottle during the washing process and settles downward in one or the other of the compartments of the washing machine. While the machines are provided with a dead space at the bottomof such com partments, nevertheless the accumulation of labels is so rapid that in a relatively short time they extend upward sufiiciently far to impede the passage of the bottles. To avoid damage which may result therefrom, it has been customary to put the washing machine out of operation to permit manual cleaning and removal of the labels. Manual cleaning is, of course, time consuming and costly. Furthermore, because of the highly caustic washing solutions commonly utilized, care must be exercised in carrying out the removal of the labels to avoid injury to personnel during the operation.

The requirement for periodic immobilization of such machinery for extended periods is, of course, costly in that such periods of non-use add materially to costs. Also, accumulation of the labels as described results in considerable wastage of still useful cleaning solutions.

Various efiorts have been made heretofore to avoid these disadvantages and to solve the problem presented by the spent labels. However, such proposed arrangements with which I am familiar incorporate serious disadvantages and leave much to be desired. For example, it has been proposed to add to what is already a somewhat cumbersome washing machine an arrangement for removing the labels from the bottles at a given station and another 'ar-' rangement for catching the labels and carrying them away. The arrangement for insuring removal of the labels at the desired position is necessarily fairly complicated and adds its own maintenance problems to that of the washing machine proper.

Thus, in spite of such proposals for dealing with these problems, the conventional practice heretofore followed has been to shut the washing machine down every sixth eight-hour work shift for the purpose of cleaning the same. Every period of about 40 hours of operation has been followed with an eight-hour period during which the apparatus was out of operation, thereby reducing the output of the machine by one-sixth.

It is therefore a principal object of my invention to ice provide an improved method and apparatus for disposing of spent labels in an automatic washing machine for containers which not only enhances the utility of such machines but also reduces substantially the cost of operating the same.

Another object is to provide an improved method and apparatus for automatically washing bottles carrying labels and disposing of the labels without requiring frequent interruptions in the washing process, which may be carried out simply with a minimum of apparatus, and which makes possible maximum use of the cleaning solutions.

One form of washing machine in connection with which my invention is especially useful utilizes an endless chain type of conveyor for transporting the bottles into and out of several washing compartments containing washing solution. One machine of this variety will be described in suflicient detail in order to permit a full understanding of my present invention. While one or more soaking compartments or rinsing stations may be utilized, I shred the labels in whatever compartment they may become separated fromthe bottles or containers. The shredding is carried out so as to reduce the labels to relatively small particles which are then maintained in suspension in the solution. Large quantities of the labels in this form may be tolerated and do not interfere with the washing process. I may then permit the forward movement of the bottles to carry substantial quantities of the particles on to the rinsing compartment where the suspended particles of the labels are flushed out of the system. In this way, the amount of shredded labels in suspension in the solution increases relatively slowly. In the event I desire to eliminate this slow increase of the amount of label particles in the solution, I pass the solution from one or more of the compartments through a recirculating system which includes an arrangement for removing the suspended particles.

Additional objects as well as advantages of my invention will be apparent from the following description and drawings in which:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional view of an automatic bottle washing machine constructed in accordance with this invention and for carrying out my method;

Figure 2 is a sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along the line 22 of Figure 1; and

Figure 3 is a view partially diagrammatic of another form thereof.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, washing machine 10 comprises an endless chain 11 carrying holders 12. While only one endless array or column of holders 12 is shown in Figure 1, chain 11 may have substantial width and carry a desired number of holders 12 disposed transversely across the chain forming rows or lines of substantial extent, as indicated in Figure 2. As shown in Figure 1, bottles or containers 13 to be washed are loaded at the input end 14 by means of a suitable automatic loading mechanism, indicated generally at 15. A pivoted loading member 15a receives the base of a bottle and seats it open end foremost in one of the holders 12, the movement of chain 11 being uninterrupted but at a speed which does not interfere with such continuous loading. Endless chain 11 is supported by suitable rollers 16 which are disposed in the present instance so as to form a rather tortuous forward path or course to output or unloading station 17 where cleaned bottles 13 are removed from holders 12. The forward course of endless chain 11 carries bottles 13 through suitable cleaning stations.

A prerinse station may be provided at 18 where bottles 13 are flushed both inside and out with water at a suitable temperature. The bottles are carried forward from the prerinse station into a first soaking solution compartment 19. It will be noted that sufficient travel is provided between the prerinse station and the first compartment 19 to permit emptying of the bottles before they are over compartment 19. One or more soaking solution compartments may be provided as desired. In the present instance there are three such soaking compartments with the second and third compartments indicated respectively at 29 and 21. To avoid breakage or other undesired effects which may result from too rapid heating, the temperature of the solution is more or less gradually increased starting with prerinse station 18 until in compartments 20 and 21 the solution may be at a tern perature of about 150 F. After passing through the third soaking solution compartment 21, bottles 13 are carried through a rinsing compartment 22 held at a somewhat reduced temperature due to a constant addition of fresh unheated water which results in an overflow of warm, pulpy water from this compartment. While the solution in rinsing compartment 22 is fresh water, that of compartments 19, 20 and 21 is highly caustic. The bottles may then be carried through a scrubbing and rinsing station 23. Here bottles 13 are scrubbed by driven brushes both inside and out and are finally flushed and rinsed with clear water before being unloaded at 17.

As thus far described, washing machine 10 is of conventional and well known construction, such machines being in fairly general use particularly in the brewing industry. While the driving and propelling mechanism has only been generally indicated and includes motor 24, belts 35, as well as suitable shafts, gears and the like, it is to be understood that suitable controls and safety interlocks are provided as is known in such devices which render the same highly efficient and trouble-free in oper ation.

As previously indicated hereinabove, bottles 13 are used repeatedly and it is necessary that fresh labels of paper or other suitable material be affixed thereto. Most of the used bottles carry labels which have been more or less marred. In any case, the old or spent labels are removed from bottles 13 and usually this is accomplished by the action of the soaking solution in compartments 19, 20 and 21. On becoming separated from the bottles, the spent labels have heretofore been permitted to settle to the bottom of each of the compartments 19, 2t) and 21 where, as shown in Figure l, sufiicient space is provided between the lowermost reach of bottles 13 on chain 11 and the floor of the compartment to form a dead space in which the labels accumulate. In practice, the rate of accumulation in the past has been such that after about forty hours of operation it was found necessary to put the machine out of operation for about eight hours to permit draining and then removal of the accumulated spent labels. If not removed at that time, it was found that shortly thereafter the accumulated mass of labels in one or more of the compartments extended high enough to impede the movement of bottles 13 on chain 11 so as to cause breakage of the bottles if suitable precautions were not taken.

I have found that a substantial quantity of the labels may be tolerated in each of the compartments if the labels are finely divided and prevented from settling out. I have also determined that after shredding the resulting fine fibrous pulp adheres to bottles 13 and even though the bottles are drained into one compartment before entering the succeeding one that label particles are carried forward by reason of their adhering to the bottles themselves and the quantity of the fine fibrous particles in suspension in each of the compartments increases at a relatively slow rate. Where, as in the present instance, the conveyor and holders are passed through the pulpy solution, the fine fibrous particles also adhere thereto whereby they are carried forward and ultimately harmlessly flushed away. Thus, in accordance with one form in which I may practice my method, I load bottles 13 to be cleaned as before. In each of the compartments where a liquid level is maintained I chop or otherwise all) reduce the labels which become detached from the bottles into fine particles which in the case of paper labels forms a fine fibrous pulp. I maintain the particles in suspension and allow the particles to be carried forward on the bottles and conveyor to a rinsing station where a water level is not ordinarily maintained and where the label particles are flushed away into a drain and out of the apparatus. When carried out in this manner, I have found that my method substantially increases the number of bottles which may be cleaned over a given length of time. Instead of interrupting the washing operation every forty hours as heretofore, it is now necessary to do so only after about 480 hours which, of course, results in a marked increase in productivity. At the same time, a substantial conservation of cleaning solution is effected since the apparatus need not be drained for cleaning purposes until after about 480 hours of operation rather than each 40 hours of operation as heretofore.

In carrying out my method I preferably utilize rotatably driven shafts 25, each of which extends into one of the compartments 19, 20, 21 and 22 through a stufiing box 26 on the outer side Wall of each of the compartments, as shown most clearly in Figure 2. On the inner end of each of the shafts 25 there is fixed a suitable blade 27. The outer end of each shaft 25 is coupled to a motor 28 and is rotated thereby. An important advantage of such an arrangement resides in the fact that neither special apparatus need be provided nor special measures instituted to insure that the labels become detached from the bottles in any particular place. Thus, a minimum of additional apparatus to that normally utilized in washing such containers is required. While bottles 13 are being carried through the various compartments, shafts 25 carrying blades 27 are rotated at high speed by motors 28 and the solution or liquid is thereby agitated. The blades, as shown most clearly in Figure 2, are arranged to have an impelling action on the liquid and the currents created thereby insure that any labels or particles in the solution will be carried past the blades and chopped into fine particles. The agitation of the liquid prevents the particles from settling and maintains them in suspension where they may be picked up by the bottles and carried forward. Additional agitators 34 may be provided in each of the compartments 19, 20 and 21.

An important advantage of this invention is that cleaning of the apparatus may be carried out in a simple manner. It is now only necessary to flush the compartments as by hosing them with water after they have been i drained. The fine particles are readily washed away and it is no longer necessary to use such implements as rakes and hoes as heretofore. Furthermore, the particles do not pack and adhere to moving parts as was the case with the labels or the relatively large pieces thereof.

' Because of the readiness with which the fine particles become entrained in a moving fluid, drains and conduits no longer become clogged.

It will be noted that compartments 19, 20 and 21 are each provided with suitable heating coils 29. An incidental advantage resulting from the present construction is that the vigorous agitation of the liquid insures a rapid passage of the liquid over heating coils 29, thereby providing more uniform heating of the liquid.

A more important advantage of the present construc- T tion is that it is now no longer necessary to provide a dead space for the accumulation of spent labels and this space may be eliminated, thereby decreasing the overall size of the apparatus. This is possible since shafts 25 and blades 27 may be mounted in the angle between the floor and side wall of each compartment and out of the path of carrier chain 11, as shown in connection with compartment 22, and as indicated in Figure 3.

As shown most clearly in Figure 3, I may also pass the solution in compartments 19, 20 and 21 to an arrangement for removing the particles suspended therein. One

such arrangement includes conduits 30 which lead the solution to a settling tank 31. Return conduits 32 are provided and a pump 33 for returning the solution to the compartments. It has not yet been determined how long the washing process may be carried on without interruption but it is apparent that this arrangement has the further advantage of more positively controlling the accumulaion of suspended particles in the various compartments. However, it is necessary to provide the additional equipment as indicated or the like to carry out the additional step of filtering the solutions.

It is apparent from the foregoing that I have provided a highly useful method for washing containers and disposing of spent labels as well as apparatus for carrying out the same. It is to be understood that the terms and expressions which I have employed are used as terms of description and not of limitation, and I have no intention, in the use of such terms and expressions, of excluding any equivalents of the features shown and described or portions thereof, but recognize that various modifications are possible within the scope of my invention.

What is claimed is: 1. The method of washing containers having labels afiixed thereto, comprising passing the containers through a cleaning fluid wherein the labels become detached from the containers, reducing the labels to substantially fine particles, and maintaining the particles in suspension and preventing their settling in the cleaning fluid through which the containers pass.

2. The method of washing containers having labels affixed thereto, comprising passing a substantially continuous procession of the containers through a cleaning fluid wherein the labels become detached from the containers, reducing the detached labels to substantially fine particles, and preventing the particles settling out of suspension in the fluid through which the containers pass.

3. The method of washing containers having labels aflixed thereto, comprising passing a procession of the containers throuhg a body of cleaning fluid wherein the labels become detached from the containers, reducing the detached labels in the body of cleaning fluid to substantially fine particles, maintaining the label particles in suspension in the body of fluid so that containers passing through the fluid come into contact with and carry particles adhering thereto out of the fluid, and then removing the particles adhering thereto from the containers.

4. The method of washing containers having labels affixed thereto, comprising passing a procession of the con tainers through a body of cleaning fluid wherein the labels become detached from the containers, shredding the detached labels in the body of cleaning fluid to substantially fine particles, maintaining the label particles in suspension in the body of fluid so that containers passing through the fluid come into contact with and carry particles adhering thereto out or the fluid, and removing particles from the body of. cleaning fluid at a suflicient rate to prevent rapid accumulation of the particles therein.

5. The method of washing containers having labels aflixed thereto, comprising passing a procession of the containers through a body of cleaning fluid wherein the labels become detached from the containers, reducing the detached labels in the body of cleaning fluid to substantially fine particles, agitating the body of cleaning fluid so as to prevent settling of the particles, and removing label particles from the body of cleaning fluid by allowing them to adhere to the containers as the containers pass out of the body of fluid.

6. The method as set forth in claim 5 and which further includes removing a portion of the fluid from said body of cleaning fluid containing particles, removing the particles from said portion of the fluid, and replenishing said body of cleaning fluid as required.

7. The method as set forth in claim 5 which further includes removing a portion of the fluid from said body of cleaning fluid, removing the particles from said portion of the fluid, and returning said portion of the fluid after the particles have been removed'to said body of cleaning fluid.

8. The method of washing containers having labels aflixed thereto, comprising passing a procession of the.

containers through successive compartments in each of which there is a quantity of cleaning fluid and wherein the labels may become detached from the containers, reducing the detached labels in each of said compartments to substantially fine particles, and agitating the fluid in said compartments to prevent the particles from settling therein.

9. The method of washing containers having labels thereon, comprising passing a procession of the containers through successive compartments in each of which there is a quantity of cleaning fluid and in at least one of which the labels become detached from the containers, reducing the detached labels in situ to substantially fine particles, and agitating the fluid in said compartments to prevent settling of particles therein, particles coming into contact with the containers adhering thereto and being carried therewith to a successive compartment.

10. The method as set forth in claim 9 which further includes removing a portion of the fluid from at least said one compartment, removing the particles from said portion, and then returning said portion of the fluid.

'11. An apparatus for washing containers at least some of which have labels attached thereto, comprising means forming at least one compartment for containing a quantity of cleaning fluid, carrier means for passing the containers into and out of the cleaning fluid in said compartment wherein the labels become detached from the containers, shredding means in said compartment for reducing the detached labels to substantially fine particles, and means for agitating the fluid and preventing said particles fromsettling in said compartment.

12. An apparatus for washing containers at least some of which have labels attached thereto, comprising means forming at least one compartment for containing a quantity of cleaning fluid, carrier means for passing the containers into and out of the cleaning fluid wherein the labels become detached from the containers, a shredding blade in said compartment, means connected to said shredding blade and for driving the same with suflicient speed to reduce said detached labels to substantially fine particles and to agitate said fluid and prevent settling of said particles in said compartment.

13. An apparatus for automatically washing containers and disposing of labels attached to at least some of said containers, comprising means forming a plurality of successive compartments for containing a quantity of cleaning fluid, carrier means for passing containers successively through said compartments in at least one of which the labels become detached from the containers, a plurality of rotatable shafts one extending into each of said compartments, a plurality of shredding blades one on each of said shafts in said compartments, means connected to said shafts for rotating the same whereby labels and parts thereof are reduced to substantially fine particles due to action of at least the blade in said one compartment and the fluid in each of said compartments is agitated by the shredding blade therein thereby preventing particles from settling, the containers on being moved from compartment to compartment serving to carry therewith particles of said labels which adhere thereto.

14. An apparatus as set forth in claim 13, further comprising a settling tank having an inlet and an outlet, conduits communicating with certain ones of said compartments and said inlet, return conduits communicating with said certain compartments and said outlet, and means for circulating said cleaning fluid from said certain compartments through said conduits to said settling 7 tank and back through said return conduits to said compartments.

15. An apparatus for washing containers at least some of which have labels attached thereto, comprising means forming at least one compartment for containing a quantity of cleaning fluid, carrier means for passing the containers into and out of the cleaning fluid in said compartment wherein the labels become detached from the containers, shredding means in said compartment for reducing the detached labels to substantially fine particles, a settling tank, means for carrying fluid with particles suspended therein to said settling tank and returning to said compartment fluid from said settling tank.

16. An apparatus for washing containers at least some of which have labels attached thereto, comprising means forming at least one compartment for containing a quantity of cleaning fluid, carrier means for passing the con- References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,390,268 Beckett Sept. 13, 1921 1,761,450 McKechnie June 3, 1930 2,050,634 Stegemann Aug. 11, 1936 2,318,524 Read May 4, 1943 2,410,380 Jamieson Oct. 29, 1946 2,529,762 Brisse NOV. 14, 1950 

1. THE METHOD OF WASHING CONTAINERS HAVING LABELS AFFIXED THERETO, COMPRISING PASSING THE CONTAINERS THROUGH A CLEANING FLUID WHEREIN THE LABELS BECOME DETACHED FROM THE CONTAINERS, REDUCING THE LABELS TO SUBSTANTIALLY FINE PARTICLES, AND MAINTAINING THE PARTICLES IN SUSPENSION AND PREVENTING THEIR SETTLING IN THE CLEANING FLUID THROUGH WHICH THE CONTAINERS PASS.
 11. AN APPARATUS FOR WASHING CONTAINERS AT LEAST SOME OF WHICH HAVE LABELS ATTACHED THERETO, COMPRISING MEANS FORMING AT LEAST ONE COMPARTMENT OF CONTAINING A QUANTITY OF CLEANING FLUID, CARRIER MEANS FOR PASSING THE CONTAINERS INTO AND OUT OF THE CLEANING FLUID IN SAID COMPARTMENT WHEREIN THE LABELS BECOME DETACHED FROM THE CONTAINERS, SHREDDING MEANS IN SAID COMPARTMENT FOR REDUCING THE DETACHED LABELS TO SUBSTANTIALLY FINE PARTICLES, AND MEANS FOR AGITATING THE FLUID AND PREVENTING SAID PARTICLES FROM SETTLING IN SAID COMPARTMENT. 